Archive for the ‘Transportation’ Category

The Science for Citizens Project Finder is filled with hundreds of citizen science projects, and it’s growing larger every day thanks to submissions by project coordinators, volunteers, and other members of the Science for Citizens community.

I’m highlighting a trio of recently added citizen science projects to introduce you to a few new ways to satisfy your citizen science cravings:

In this project, citizen scientists report roadkill by entering observations in an easy-to-use online form. Roadkill data can be analyzed by observers and will be used to understand where roadkill occurs and the severity of the impact to wildlife species. The project aims to provide a safer environment for wildlife in relationship with California motorways.

I usually run/scream like a child when I see a spider. Turns out, the Colorado Spider Survey needs people to collect spiders from throughout the state to help researchers determine what species of spiders are found in every ecosystem in Colorado. Data from these specimens and from Colorado specimens housed at other collections throughout the country will be compiled and published in an electronic database.

Juturna is a Toronto-based project that supports the collection, analysis, data sharing, and reporting of community collected water quality data. Researchers at York University, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the civil society organization EcoSpark use data contributed by volunteers to to monitor environmental conditions of local watersheds.

Just back from a visit to Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Lab. Fascinating developments taking place there, not the least of which includes a number of citizen science initiatives! First up: ChargeCar!

This project, part of a series of community-based applied research activities coming out of CMU’s CommunityRobotics.org, is asking you to share your daily commute data. Why? “If we can accumulate a large database of real commutes,” the CMU site reports, “Electric Vehicle researchers will be better able to tailor solutions to individual trips, and the understanding of the typical commute will improve.”

In addition to contributing to science, you’ll be able to calculate the cost of commuting with an electric car using your actual commute data, compare the efficiency of gasoline and electric cars for your trips, and browse commutes across the country.

Give it a whirl! If you decide to participate, consider sharing your experience with others by creating a member blog right here on Sci4Cits! This video explains more about ChargeCar: